Description
Object description
An amphibious landing is made by British and Indian troops, probably at Akyab Island off the Arakan coast of Burma.
Full description
Reel 1: In a wooded area, British troops in berets (Commandos?) overrun a set of earthworks. Three British soldiers leave a bunker, running towards and past camera. Troops run through trees; two enter a house on low stilts, and two others kneel nearby. Three British soldiers leave the house, and one gestures for the others to follow him; around nine British soldiers run away from camera. [94 feet] On a beach; British troops moving supplies. More supplies being moved with local civilians assisting. Unloading landing craft. An ambulance drives off a landing craft. Troops off the landing craft. Troops push the ambulance. An Indian soldier with a Sten gun investigates a partly buried naval mine, marked with sticks. From behind a low sand dune, a soldier fires his rifle at the mine in an attempt to detonate it; shots can be seen impacting the mine and ricocheting. A group of officers around a map, including the divisional commander (?). A group of local people walking with British soldiers.
Content description
Reel 2: Onboard a landing craft at sea with larger vessels in the background. An unsteady pan shows large vessels and other landing craft. Looking back at the supporting warships; smoke suggests they are firing their guns. A landing craft marked '8' underway. Further shots of other craft. Looking to the shore. Other landing craft running in. Smoke drifting on the beach. Landing craft beaching and troops running ashore. More views from the landing craft. Three men on the beach; one appears to be operating a heliograph to send Morse code. Close-up showing the operation of the heliograph. Group of soldiers over a map on the beach. Three local men, standing outside a thatched hut, being inspected by two British soldiers. One man, who clearly doesn't like being filmed, has scarring at his wrist and across his left shoulder. Soldiers with local people in a village. A column of troops with local people making its way across a small shallow valley towards camera. A small crowd of local people listening to an address by an Army captain (Indian or Burmese?). Pan of the crowd. Local musicians performing.
Physical description
35mm